Parkersburg's Karson Gooch goes up for a reverse lay-in during the Big Reds' 73-53 setback to Bridgeport on Saturday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG – Chandler Jackson went for game-highs of 25 points and eight rebounds while adding three assists and as many steals here Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough as Parkersburg fell 73-53 to No. 5 Class AAA Bridgeport inside Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Indians, who improved to 8-2 and extended their winning streak to six games, watched Daniel Riley go for a team-high 20 points off the bench while point guard Anderson McDougal flirted with a triple-double after posting 13 counters, a game-high 10 assists and seven caroms.

“We used to scrimmage them, but this is the first we’ve played down here for awhile since I’ve been part of the boys,” admitted BHS boss Dave Marshall, whose squad had 22 assists on 27 made baskets. “That’s a big emphasis. We know we have to play together and when we do that, especially when we do it defensively, we feel like we make strides forward. I felt like for the most part tonight we made some strides forward.

“Kind of got a little sloppy in the fourth quarter, but that’s part of the growing process. We only got one senior (Sam Romano). We got a lot of youth and they are learning. I’m proud of how they grind. They (PHS) are a well coached team. They are just hard working and got some guys who can put the ball in the hole. It was very challenging for us. Good environment. I love bringing the kids here to this place because I know the history and I like them to understand the history, and it’s pretty cool.”

Quinten Wilson, who was unwell but started the second half, finished with a dozen markers and was the only other Big Red in double figures.

Parkersburg's Chandler Jackson is called for a foul against Bridgeport's Sam Romano during the Big Reds' 73-53 setback on Saturday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PHS, now 3-8 with a road game Friday at Parkersburg South, had the affair tied at five early after buckets by Karson Gooch and Jackson along with a Mathias Williams free throw countered a Jake Holcomb trey and a McDougal deuce. However, the Indians ended the quarter on an 11-2 spurt as Riley had a pair of baskets and Gavin Williams, who finished with 18 points, converted a trio of field goals including a 3.

The Indians, who hit 9 of 18 from distance and shot 60% (27 of 45) from the floor, watched the Big Reds close it to 19-11 early in the second after a Sutton Stanley steal led to a Nick Romine hoop.

Down 25-15 with 1:07 left in the half following a Gooch make, the Big Reds gave up a late lay-in to Riley, who then had a steal and a layup for a 29-15 intermission advantage.

“It was a weird start,” admitted PHS head coach Phil Wilson, who lost Stanley early in the third to an ankle injury. “It was something that wasn’t on our bucket list of things to do so you got to try and scramble and make the best of what you got. I thought we played a really great second half. The first half just got away from us. The last four buckets at the end of the first half, none of those should’ve happened.

“Now you take that 14-point deficit going into half and you cut that down to 10 it changes the game dynamics going into the second half. They still won the second half by five. I mean but you add Quinten into the first half of that game. Are we down by 10? You don’t know the answer to that question, but you would like to think ‘no, you wouldn’t be down by 10.’ You got one of your better players sitting out the first half. That’s not helping you out.”

Parkersburg's Sutton Stanley is pressured by Bridgeport's Gavin Williams during the Big Reds' 73-53 setback on Saturday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Parkersburg was unable to get the deficit back to single digits the rest of the way as the Indians held a 50-27 cushion entering the fourth thanks to going 8 of 12 from the floor and draining 4 of 6 from deep in the third as Williams, McDougal, Riley and Aryon Dodd, who had 12 points, drained trifectas.

“They are a really good ball team and well coached,” coach Wilson said of the Indians. “I told them after the game I’m not sure how I feel about this one. Like I’m stuck right now. I told them I’m going to hold judgement until after I watch the film and come back on Monday.

“I’m proud of the fact they didn’t quit. I’m proud of the fact that they battled it out. Now we got a week to get ready for South. This is the first time we’ve actually had three, four days to get ready for another team. We’re going to try and take advantage of it.”

Bridgeport will look to continue its winning ways on Wednesday when Lewis County invades.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com

Parkersburg's Jaxon Thomas saves a ball from going out of bounds during the Big Reds' 73-53 setback to Bridgeport on Saturday night inside Memorial Fieldhouse. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)